TOKYO, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said Thursday the government is tracking yen moves with "extremely high vigilance," as the U.S. dollar rose near the 160 yen line, a level unseen since 2024.

Katayama told reporters that the government is fully on guard and ready to take "all possible steps at any time," warning of speculative trades that could emerge later in the day, when the Bank of Japan is set to conclude its two-day policy meeting. ■